"JWBDolphins" <JWBDolphins@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1C162EFE-F66E-4140-871A-6503F229E1D3@microsoft.com...
| I installed Windows 98 SE yesterday and have been trying to Register it
via
| the online process. I run the registration wizard, fill out all the info,
| regwiz dials microsoft, authenticates on the network, and connects to the
MSN
| Site.
|
| At which point it sits for a few minutes and finally hangs up with the
msg:
|
| "The Microsoft Registration web site is currently busy, try registering
| again."
|
| The problem is - I've received this message all yesterday afternoon, all
| last night, and now today too.
|
| My Question is - Is Msft currently allowing Win98SE registrations?, did
| that go away with the dropping of Win98 support?, or is the registration
web
| site just down for now and will be back up at some point?
|
| Thanks!
|
|
I suppose the reason no one has answered is that no one knows how to
exactly answer that question without opening the door to the people who will
point to this as some form of authorization to pirate the OS..
The registration process for 98 has ended as far as I know. As you note,
support ended. If you bought a legal copy, then the EULA still binds you to
the law as effectively as it did when it was supported. The EULA would also
bind you even without a legal copy since you unlawfully installed it. Though
support ended, the EULA never will unless legally retracted by Microsoft
[and agreed to by the other parties].
If you're actually interested in whether you have a legal product, search
for 98 downloads on Microsoft Downloads Center for ones requiring Genuine
Advantage to download. Instead of clicking the *Verify Now* button, right
click on the button to download the file [GenuineCheck.exe]. Another way to
obtain the file is to click the button [while Explorer is open to Temporary
Internet Files, and "catch"/copy the file, while the file is there, and copy
to another folder].
Install/run the file after you download it, highlight the verification
number [copy to clipboard], shutdown the IE browser [to allow the ActiveX to
install and Genuine Check to run] restart the browser, go that page again,
click *Verify Now*, paste the code into it, and it will check for validity.
If you try to do so directly from the page without using this technique, it
will pop-up as an unsupported product. Doing it this way pops-up the Thank
You and the ability to sign up for Genuine Advantage extras, which no longer
apply to your product, and to download the file/update.
[For those suggesting Microsoft does know or can't check the legality of
your product, this will verify one way in which Microsoft can.].
As for what to do generally:
You will need IE 5.01 {at least, some say 5.5} installed to access
WindowsUpdate.
Go to WindowsUpdate and update the product, or otherwise update the product
to the extent you need. Pay particular attention to the system file updates
[many of which may not be found on WindowsUpdate] and PARTICULARLY IE 6
updates if you intend to attempt using it.
Just be glad you have Win98 and not XP or VISTA, when support ends there
will apparently be no legal way to activate the product, should it be
necessary to do so.
And for the interested, here are key elements from Gary Terhune's [MVP]
[re-posted without his permission though I'm sure he won't mind] exploration
into the updates issues for 98FE/Gold and SE [when was that? January 2006?]:
WINDOWS 98 UPDATES part 1
Several people have asked recently about various Windows Updates. Like how
many have been issued since the Windows Updates Security CD was released,
how many of Win98 Gold's patches were subsumed into Win98SE, etc.
There are two major difficulties in this experiment. First, you can't get to
Windows Updates using Win98 Gold right out of the box. It requires a minimum
of IE 5.01; secondly, Internet Explorer is further an issue because which
updates you are offered depends in great part on what version of IE you have
installed. But it's very difficult to say, "Ignore the IE Updates and only
focus on the non-IE updates," since IE is an integral part of Windows 9x,
especially since the advent of IE 5. A similar issue applies to Windows
Media Player. In a similar vein, many updates that were previously offered
to Win98 users have been made obsolete by newer versions. For instance,
there is no IE 5 version of any kind offered at Windows Updates these days,
only IE6SP1. Thus, the only IE Updates I see before installing IE 6.1 are
those offered to IE 5.01.
In short, there are no simple answers to the questions posed -- no single
answer to the question, "How many updates (and which) were offered to Win98
Gold that were subsumed into Win98SE," because SE included IE 5.01 and WMP
6.4 (I think), thus obviating all IE4 and earlier WMP updates. So, I will do
my best to chronicle and document the steps I'm taking and let others decide
what's important to them. Note: I did *not* return to the bad old days and
peruse the Corporate Updates site for pre-IE5 Updates. Someone else can do
that. I do recall at one time being an expert jockey of said site, but my
mind is fragile these days...
First thing I did was to install Windows 98 Gold (MSDN version which is
essentially the same as retail.) I installed all optional components. I then
installed Service Pack 1, which includes the following:
--Both Y2K Updates
--Active Accessibility update
--Q189591 Computer Does Not Resume To Recognize USB Device From Standby
--Q222600 Bulk Transfer URLs Can Specify More Than 64 Bytes
--Q220586 Computer with Plug and Play Network Adapter Is Not Found (only
affects Win98 systems that were upgraded from Win95)
--Q178979 System Policy to Require Validation by Network May Not Work
--Q216641 Computer Hangs After 49.7 Days
--Q216565 New Dialing Rules for Spain and Italy Require TAPI Update
I did *not* install any Service Packs for IE 4.1 or patches depending on IE4
or it's SPs. Q234680, for instance, is a patch to OE 4SP2.
I then installed IE 5.01, all optional components selected except specific
languages in the Multi-language section. Now I'm able to access Windows
Updates. Upon doing so, there are seven Optional and 20 Critical Updates
offered. One, of course, is IE6SP1. In earlier times, that one would have
been some earlier version of IE. (Note: The Criticals list is mostly in
reverse chronological order because that's the way Windows Updates lists
them.)
-----Optional Components-----
--DirectX 9.0c End-User Runtime
--Registration Wizard Update
--Microsoft .NET Framework version 1.1
--Windows Critical Update Notification 4.0
--Internet Explorer Navigation Sound Update
--Euro Conversion Tool
--Agent 2.0
--------Critical Updates--------
--IE6.1 Note: Because this is offered, no other updates for IE 5.01 are
offered.
--Security Update, February 14, 2002 (note: this is MS02-009)
--Security Update for Windows 98 (KB891711)
--Security Update for Windows 98 (KB891781)
--823559: Security Update for Microsoft Windows
--816093: Security Update for Microsoft Virtual Machine (Microsoft VM)
--814078: Security Update (Microsoft JScript version 5.1, Windows 98 and
Windows NT 4.0)
--Q329414: Security Update (MDAC 2.1)
--Q329115: Security Update (Windows 98)
--Windows Share Level Password Update
--Q323172 Security Update (Windows 98)
--Q323255 Security Update (Windows 98)
--Security Update, May 19, 2000 (note: this is MS00-029)
--Security Update, March 17, 2000 (note: this is MS00-017)
--Q320920 Security Update (Windows Media Player 6.4)
--Security Update 2, November 29, 1999 (note: this is MS99-052
--Security Update November 12, 1999 (note: this is MS99-049)
--Security Update March 7, 1999 (note: the Security Bulletin for this was
updated to MS02-14)
--Security Update November 20, 2001 (note: this is MS01-056)
--Security Update April 2, 2001 (note: this is MS01-017)
Next, without installing any of the above Updates, I installed the Microsoft
Windows Security Update CD. Upon returning to Windows Updates, I discover
the following:
Optional Updates: The same seven optional updates are offered as before.
While the Security CD included DirectX9, it wasn't the latest version,
DirectX 9.0c. An additional thirty-four Updates are offered, all of them
Language Support.
Critical Updates: 10 are offered, of which
--905915 (IE 6.1)
--837009 (OE 6.1)
--833989 (IE 6.1)
--908519 (a recently discovered networking issue, "Embedded Web Font
Vulnerability", that affects all 9x and NT systems.)
--904706 (DX 9)
--896358 (HTML Help vulnerability)
--888113 (Hyperlink Object Library vuln.)
--891711 (Cursor & Icon Format vuln.)
--891781 (DHTML Editing Component ActiveX vuln.)
--816093 (Security Update for Microsoft Virtual Machine)
That last one for VM is the only one remaining from the previous list. The
rest are either more recently discovered vulnerabilities or are patches to
the software installed by the Security CD.
I then installed all ten Critical Updates. Upon returning to Windows
Updates, no further Critical Updates are offered. The same seven optional
Updates are offered. I then installed DirectX 9.0c (which must be installed
separately.) Upon returning to Windows Updates, no further Critical Updates
were offered. I proceeded to install the remaining six Optional Updates.
Returning to Windows Updates yet again, I find two additional Critical
Updates.
--873374 (GDI+ Detection Tool -- Why I wasn't offered this earlier, I don't
know.)
--.NET Framework SP1
I installed both, and ran the GDI+ Detection tool. It seemed to say that I
had some kind of vulnerability, but I found no useful remedies, nor am I
sure what app it was flagging. This is a clean install. Anyway, after
installing the .NET Framework SP1, that was it. No more Updates offered.
Now, there remains at least one variation to try: What happens when I
install the Security CD right after installing WIn98. Are *all* of the
earlier issues I patched with most of Windows 98 Service Pack 1 covered?
Furthermore, there is WIn98SE to research, and finally, we'll see if we can
positively identify the specific patches from Win98 Gold that were subsumed
into SE -- besides the IE-specific ones. Stay tuned...
--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User
WINDOWS 98SE PART 2 update cycle
OK, here's the results from Windows 98SE. I first clean-installed Win98SE
(MSDN), installed a couple of drivers, then visited Windows Updates. Here's
what I found:
Optional Updates (8):
--DirectX 9.0c
--Windows Critical Update Notification 4.0
--Internet Explorer Navigation Sound Update
--Euro Conversion Tool
--Agent 2.0
--Windows IDE Hard Drive Cache Package (Win98SE-specific)
--Mapped Drives Shutdown Update
--Media Player 9 Series
Critical Updates (14):
--IE 6 SP1
--Security Update, September 7, 1999 (MS99-032, the so-called "eyedog"
patch.)
--891711 (Cursor & Icon Format)
--891781 (DHTML Editing Component ActiveX Control)
--816093 (MS Virtual Machine)
--Q329414 (MDAC 2.1)
--Share Level Password vuln.
--Q323255 (MS00-029Unchecked Buffer in HTML Help)
--MS99-049 IP Fragment Reassembly patch
--Security Update, March 7, 2002 (MS02-014 Unchecked buffer in Windows
Shell)
--Security Update, April 2, 2001 (MS01-017 Erroneous Verisign spoofing vuln)
--Security Update, March 17, 2000 (MS00-017)
--Security Update November 29, 1999 (MS99-038 Spoofed pointer and Fragmented
IGMP package)
At this point, I installed IE 6SP1, to see if any of the other Updates were
also taken care of.
Optional Updates (not including Language Packs) (9, not including Language
packs)
To the previous list, add .NET Framework. Not sure why this wasn't offered
last time, unless it has to do with the version of IE (see below.)
Critical Updates (22):
--905915 (Cumulative Update for IE 6SP1)
--837009 (Cumulative Update for OE 6SP1)
--833989 (MS04-028 IE 6SP1 Buffer Overrun in JPEG Processing -- GDI+)
--908519 (MS06-002 Embedded Web Fonts vuln)
--896358 (MS05-026 HTML Help vuln.)
--888113 (MS05-015 Hyperlink Object Library vuln.)
--891711 (MS05-002 Cursor & Icon Format vuln.)
--891781 (MS05-013 DHTML Editing Component ActiveX Control vuln.)
--823559 (MS03-023 Buffer Overrun in HTML converter vuln.)
--816093 (MS03-011 Microsoft VM vuln.)
--814078 (MS03-008 JScript 5.6 update)
--Q329414 (MSDAC 2.1 Update)
--Q329115 (Certificate Validation Flaw...)
--Windows Share Level Password Update
--Q323172 (Flaw in Digital Cert. Enrollment Component)
--Q323255 (Unchecked buffer in HTML Help)
--Security Update, May 19, 2000 (IP Fragment Reassembly issue)
--Security Update November 12, 1999 (File Access URL vuln.)
--Security Update, March 7, 2002 (MS02-014 Unchecked buffer in Windows
Shell)
--Security Update, March 17, 2000 (MS00-017 DOS Device in Path Name vuln.)
--Security Update 1, November 29, 1999 (MS99-038 Spoofed Route Pointer and
Fragmented IGMP Packet)
--811630 (Puts HTML Help into Restricted Zone)
It would appear that only the following two patches from pre-IE6
installation were made unnecessary by first upgrading to IE 6SP1:
--Security Update, September 7, 1999 (MS99-032, the so-called "eyedog"
patch.)
--Security Update, April 2, 2001 (MS01-017 Erroneous Verisign spoofing vuln)
OK, so I installed all of the above patches. Went back to Windows Update and
was offered the following Critical Updates:
--911565 (MS06-005 Media Player 9 patch)
--904706 (MS05-050 DirectX 9.0c patch)
--.NET Framework Service Pack 1)
--GDI+ detection tool
I installed all four, though the GDI+ Detection tool still frustrated me
until I figured out that whenever I've run into this during this experiment,
the GDI+ Detection tool ran before the .NET Framework SP1 was installed, and
that pre-SP1 .NET Framework is apparently one of the products that is
susceptible to the GDI+ vulnerability. I'll remember to install the SP1
*before* running the Detection tool next time. See if that fixes things.
Anyway, I went back to Windows Updates and no more Updates were offered.
Next on my list is to once again clean-install both OSes and then
immediately apply the entire Security Updates CD to each, then see what
remains to be gotten. Last of all, I'll discuss the various questions that
prompted this experiment in the first place. Once again, I must point out
that innumerable patches/updates were not part of this experiment since they
have earlier versions of DirectX, IE and WMP as their prerequisites,
versions which are no longer available. Yes, I could sort through my MSDN
and TechNet stuff and probably come up with a month-by-month chronology of
Updates, but I'm not going to. I'm just not that bored.
WINDOWS UPDATES PART 3
OK, in the first two parts of this thread, I went through the currently
available progression of Updates available at Windows Updates for Windows 98
Gold and for Windows 98 Second Edition. I then went back and clean-installed
both OSes (I'm using separate partitions), including all optional components
in both cases. I then immediately ran the Windows Security Updates CD on
each. (Noting that the default installation of IE 6 SP1 includes all
optional components except Language support and Additional Web Fonts. I
added in the Web Fonts option afterwards. I then went to Windows Updates and
noted which Updates are offered.)
-----------------Windows 98 Gold-------------
---Optional Updates---
--DirectX 9.0c End-User Runtime
--Registration Wizard Update
--Microsoft .NET Framework version 1.1
--Windows Critical Update Notification 4.0
--Internet Explorer Navigation Sound Update
--Euro Conversion Tool
--Agent 2.0
---Critical Updates---
--905915 (IE 6.1)
--837009 (OE 6.1)
--833989 (IE 6.1)
--908519 (a recently discovered networking issue, "Embedded Web Font
Vulnerability", that affects all 9x and NT systems.)
--904706 (DX 9)
--896358 (HTML Help vulnerability)
--888113 (Hyperlink Object Library vuln.)
--891711 (Cursor & Icon Format vuln.)
--891781 (DHTML Editing Component ActiveX vuln.)
--816093 (Security Update for Microsoft Virtual Machine)
(Note that this is exactly the same list that I obtained during my first
experiment with Win98 Gold, indicating that none of the earlier updates I'd
installed before running the Security Updates CD are not covered by that
CD.)
After installing the above Optional and Critical Updates, the following were
made available. After installing them, no more Updates are offered.
-----Windows 98 Second Edition-----
---Optional Updates---
--DirectX 9.0c
--.NET Framework version 1.1
--Windows Critical Update Notification 4.0
--Internet Explorer Navigation Sound Update
--Euro Conversion Tool
--Agent 2.0
--Windows IDE Hard Drive Cache Package (Win98SE-specific)
--Mapped Drives Shutdown Update
A slight change here from the previous experiment. .NET Framework is offered
because IE6 was installed by the SecUp CD. However, WMP 9 is no longer
offered because it was installed by the Updates CD.
---Critical Updates (11) ---
--905915 (Cumulative Update for IE 6SP1)
--837009 (Cumulative Update for OE 6SP1)
--833989 (MS04-028 IE 6SP1 Buffer Overrun in JPEG Processing -- GDI+)
--911565 (MS06-005 Media Player 9 patch)
--908519 (MS06-002 Embedded Web Fonts vuln) (Note: There's a typo in Part 2
that lists this as 908510. Should be 908519)
--904706 (DX 9.0c Patch)
--896358 (MS05-026 HTML Help vuln.)
--888113 (MS05-015 Hyperlink Object Library vuln.)
--891711 (Cursor & Icon Format)
--891781 (DHTML Editing Component ActiveX Control)
--816093 (MS Virtual Machine)
After installing the above Optional and Critical Updates, the following were
made available. After installing them, no more Updates are offered.
--.NET 1.1 Update
--GDI+ Detection Tool (Note: Installing the .NET Framework patch did not
stop the GDI+ Detection Tool from suggesting that something on the machine
might be vulnerable. So I still don't know what it might be referring to
unless it's still the .NET Framework (even though patched) or Paint or
FrontPage Express.
Note that in neither OS are any additional Optional (Recommended) Updates
made available after installing the Security Updates CD. IOW, it has no
effect at all. Yes, the SecUp CD installs a DX9.0 version, but not version
9.0c, thus it isn't removed from the list by installing the CD. However, in
the case of Windows 98SE, WMP 9 is installed by the SecUp CD and is thus
removed from the Optional (Recommended) list. The latest version of WMP that
can be installed to Win98 Gold is WMP 7, and that is installed by the SecUp
CD, but strangely enough, it is never offered at Windows Updates, presumably
because no version of WMP was installed during the original installation so
no "update" is available.
OK, we'll come back and discuss whatever needs to be discussed tomorrow.
--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User
"Gary S. Terhune" <grystnews@mvps.org>
UPDATE TO UPDATES 3
Note: In the previous, Part 3 of this series, I inadvertently left out some
of the final data on Win98 Gold -- what happens after I install all of the
Updates that are offered after installing the Security Update CD. There were
no surprises. On that last visit to Windows Updates, the patch to .Net
Framework, the GDI+ Detection Tool were the last items offered.
--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User
CONTINUED WITH IE 5.01
OK, I ran into that Windows Updates error (0x80072F89) with a clean install
of SE, just like the last three times (but not the first two times). But, I
installed IE 5.01 (v 5.00.3105.0106) and that let me into WU. *Now* what I
show is nine Optional (aka Recommended) Updates because this version now
accepts .NET Framework 1.1. And *twenty* Critical Updates! I won't bother to
list the Optionals again, but here's the twenty:
X--IE 6 SP1
--Security Update February 14, 2002 (IE 5.01)
X--891711
X--891781
--823559 (MS03-023 Buffer Overrun in HTML Converter)
X--816093 (MS Virtual Machine)
--814078 (MS03-008, JScript 5.1)
X--Q329414 (MDAC 2.1)
--Q329115 (Certification Validation Flaw Could Enable Identity Spoofing)
X--Windows Share Level Password Update
--Q323172 (Flaw in Digital Certificate Enrollment)
X--Q323255 (Unchecked Buffer in HTML Help) Note: I misidentified this as
MS00-029 in the previous
X--Security Update, May 19, 2000 (MS00-029 IP Fragment Reassembly flaw)
--Q320920 (Updated WMP 6.4 Cumulative patch)
--Security Update, November 12, 1999 (File Access URL)
X--Security Update, March 7, 2002 (Unchecked Buffer in Windows Shell)
--Security Update, November 20, 2001 (WMP 6.4 .ASF Processor contains an
unchecked buffer)
X--Security Update, April 2, 2001 (Erroneous VeriSign-issued Certificates
Pose Spoofing Hazard)
X--Security Update, March 17, 2000 (DOS Device in Path Name)
X--Security Update, November 29, 1999 (Spoofed Route Pointer and Fragmented
IGMP Packet)
The "Eyedog" patch of Sept. 7, 1999 is no longer offered, as it was for a
clean install of SE. As noted above, I've made mistakes in previous posts. I
think I'm going to have to do this again, probably put the results on my
website. I got flustered by errors at Windows Updates and by other life
events.
I *think* the item that was missing from the previous list of Updates made
available right after a clean install of 98SE is the "November 12, 1999,
File Access URL" issue, or possibly Q323172.
______
Thanks again for the work Gary, as you can see, it was appreciated...
--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com
________
